Brassiere construction



Oct. 2, 1956 R. J. GAZELLE 2,764,759

BRASSIERE CONSTRUCTION Filed June 22, 1954 INVENTOR. $0444.00 J. azu' A rraAu/Ey United States Patent BRASSIERE CONSTRUCTION Rolland J. Gazelle, New York, N. Y., assignor of onehalf to Walter T. Anderson, Detroit, Mich.

Application June 22, 1954, Serial No. 438,425

1 Claim. 3 (Cl. 2-42) This invention relates to a brassiere construction, and more particularly to an inflatable medium incorporated therein for shaping the same.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a brassiere construction together with hollow sealed inflatable elements positioned therein and adapted for connection with an exterior bulb for introducing air thereinto.

It is the further object of the present invention to provide a pocket construction upon the exterior of the brassiere band within which the bulb may be stored.

It is the still further object of the present invention to provide a storage pocket for a'brassiere together with a closure device therefor.

These and other objects will be seen from the following specification and claim, in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the present brassiere as it would be used.

Fig. 2 is a partially broken away rear elevational view of the brassiere.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an elevational section on an enlarged scale illustrating the valve and air delivery pipe.

Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 2 but showing a variation in construction; and

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 77 of Fig. 6.

It will be understood that the above drawing illustrates merely a preferred embodiment of the invention and that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the claim hereafter set forth.

Referring to the drawing, the present brassiere includes the flexible, preferably fabric body engaging band 11, whose rearwardly extending terminals 12 are adapted for fastening upon the back of the user.

The brassiere includes the conventional pair of conically shaped outwardly projecting elements 13 with connecting band 15 therebetween, and the pair of upwardly extending shoulder straps 14, as indicated in the drawing.

Mounted within the projecting elements 13, and as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, there are provided a pair of hollow expansible form defining balloon-like elements 16 and 17 of generally circular form at the base, and including the forwardly projecting conically shaped elements 18, adapted when expanded by the application of air to conform with the interior shape of elements 13.

The two expansible elements 16 and 17 are interconnected by the conduit 19, which communicates with their respective interiors.

Hollow fitting 20 projects from element 17 and connected therewith is the flexible air supply tube 21, which has secured in air communication therewith at its outer end the manually operable expansible air supply bulb 22, which is connected to said tube as at 23; said bulb having a suitable air inlet opening in communication with the atmosphere.

As shown in Fig. 4, the bulb is preferably elliptical in 2,764,759 Patented Oct. 2, 1956 "ice shape and somewhat flattened so as not to be noticeable from the exterior of the users garments.

Tube 21 has an interior passage 25 which communicates with the interior of fitting 20 defining valve seat 10, against which rests ball 27 urged into seated position by coiled spring 28.

The interior of fitting 20 communicates with the interior of expansible element 17 by the passageway 26, as shown in Fig. 5, said expansible elements being preferably constructed of rubber or other equivalent expansible material, whereby the user can control the finally expanded shape for the brassiere.

As shown in Fig. 3 the expansible elements 16 and 17 are loosely fastened within elements 13 in any suitable fashion, as at 29, such as by snap fasteners, or merely a few stitches.

Upon the exterior of band 11 and towards the side thereof, there is provided pocket 29 within which bulb 22 may be stored in a convenient manner, said pocket having a suitable snap-fastener 30 or other closure for retaining the bulb therein and against accidental dislodgment.

There is also provided upon band 11 an additional storage pocket 31 with a zippered closure 32 to permit the storage of articles.

In use, in order to effect an expansion of brassiere elements 13, as desired, the bulb 22 may be manually and intermittently compressed either upon the interior of pocket 29 or upon its exterior for delivering atmospheric air to the interior of the two interconnected expansion elements 16 and 17, valve 27-40 serving to retain the air within elements 16 and 17.

A slight variation of the present invention is shown in Fig. 6 which includes brassiere band 33 with the terminal fastening end portions 34 broken away. Extending upwardly of band 33 are a pair of projecting elements 35 within which are positioned a pair of hollow expansible form defining balloon-like elements 36, constructed of rubber or the equivalent. Inlet conduits 37 and 38 respectively join elements 36 at their one ends and at their opposite ends are connected to the elongated conduit 39 which extends along the interior surface of band 33 or may be stitched upon the interior thereof, as indicated at 39. Conduit 39 at its opposite ends communicates with the hollow expansible ribs 40 and 41 respectively, which define the outer and top marginal portions of projecting elements 35.

These ribs when inflated take such form as to press upon the upper portion of the body of the user eliminating the necessity of the shoulder straps shown in Fig. 2. The projecting elements 35 and the corresponding inflatable ribs 40 and 41 are interconnected at the central depressed portion 42, Fig. 6.

Fitting 43 with one-way ball valve 44 similar to valve 27 of Fig. 5, is joined to conduit 39. Connected with fitting 43 is a flexible conduit 45 which terminates in the manually operable bulb 46, which when not in use is stored within the pocket 47, which is stitched or otherwise secured to band 33. It is contemplated that in the place of the bulb 46, the elements 36 and the ribs 40 and 41 could be inflated merely by blowing into the tube 45.

There is furthermore provided upon band 33 a pocket 48, which may be constructed of a plastic substance and which has a sealing flap 49 also of plastic, which with the application of pressure tends to seal the pocket closed. This pocket is in the nature of a secret pocket or compartment, which may be used for the storage of valuable articles, such as rings or money, and thereby eliminates the hazard of pocket book pilfering.

The present secret pocket formation for the brassiere is believed to have tremendous value and appeal. Where a plastic money pocket is employed and the flap closed,

the application of pressure will produce a substantially hermetical seal.

Having described my invention, reference should now be had to the claim which follows for determining the scope thereof.

I claim:

In a brassiere including a body engaging band and a pair of conically shaped outwardly projecting elements, hollow expansible form defining elements loosely nested and secured within said first elements,rhollow expansible elongated ribs forming the outer marginal portions of said outwardly projecting elements, an elongated conduit mounted upon said band and at its ends joined to the respective ends of said ribs in communication with their interior, additional conduits interconnecting the interiors of said expansible elements with said elongated conduit, an air supply tube, a fitting interconnecting said tube with said elongated conduit and adapted to house a oneway valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 282,627 Gensch Aug. 7, 1883 665,260 Ostermeyer Ian. 1, 1901 990,279 Mayer et a1. April 25, 1911 1,721,739 Kennedy July 23, 1929 1,927,725 Tompkins Sept. 19, 1933 1,956,890 Buxton May 1, 1934 2,436,430 Hart Feb. 24, 1948 2,492,862 Harvey Dec. 27, 1949 2,516,129 Leo et al. July 25, 1950 2,544,300 Davenport et a1. Mar. 6, 1951 2,544,840 Kowatsch Mar. 13, 1951 2,582,648 Mowbray Jan. 15, 1952 

